Vol. 491 No. 2
133 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will establish an inquiry into the source of the leak of information in relation to the application by a former Attorney General for the position of High Court judge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7122/98]
The reported leaking of the nomination of a former Attorney General for the position of High Court judge is a matter of grave concern to me. My concern is shared by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which, under section 16(2) of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995, is obliged to recommend to me a list of suitable candidates for appointments to such posts.
Given the seriousness of the issue, I recently met the Chief Justice and other members of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board and they have assured me that no leak on this matter originated from the board. We agreed that this was a most regrettable development and that strenuous efforts must be made to avoid a repetition.
It was also agreed that it would be next to impossible to establish definitively the source of the information which appeared in the media. Accordingly, it was concluded that no useful purpose would be served by the instigation of a formal inquiry.
134 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the recommendations, if any, received by the Government from the Judicial Advisory Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7916/98]
I am currently awaiting the recommendations of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board with regard to the appointment of judges to the District Court and I will be bringing the matter to Government in the usual way as soon as they are received.
